MCAT screw up - is it overlooked?

[Archimedes]

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You take the MCAT once - bomb it. (score in the 20's - nono, LOWER 20's)

You take it the second time - ACE it. (30's)

Do they combine the two scores and use a combined score? Do the just look at the higher score? Do they look at the higher score, but deduct a few points cuz of the lower score?

Do they just deduct a few points off of your entire app?

Do you need to explain WHY you did bad on it? Or it makes no darn difference?

 

[efex101]

You should only take the MCAT if you think that you are prepared. Although a good score can redeem a poor initial performance all schools will see both scores. Again, take it when you are ready (not for practice). I am not implying that you would...but some pre-meds think that it is okay to kind of take one for practice see how they do and then retake it. This is obviously not a good idea...

 

[PreMedAdAG]

um, well I got a 23 the first time I took it, then scored a 30. It didn't serve as a problem for me. No one even asked me about it.

 

[tinkerbelle]

Do they combine the two scores and use a combined score? Do the just look at the higher score? Do they look at the higher score, but deduct a few points cuz of the lower score?

Do they just deduct a few points off of your entire app?

Do you need to explain WHY you did bad on it? Or it makes no darn difference?

Only one school (out of 10) asked me about my first MCAT score. And that school basically just asked how I managed to make such a jump in my score. And then the interviewer congratuated me on my new score.

So I don't think they will pay much attention to your low 20's score... and i doubt it will hurt your application. So don't worry so much 🙂

 

[Nittany Lion]

um, well I got a 23 the first time I took it, then scored a 30. It didn't serve as a problem for me. No one even asked me about it.

Same here.... I took the MCAT "early" (August of junior year)... TERRIBLE IDEA... I wasn't prepared and only scored a 23 also... then took it in April with the rest of my classmates after many more months of studying and got a 29 (I know still not way above average, but good enough for me). Everyone told me how much of a bad idea it is to take the MCAT twice, but so far I've been on 4 interivews (and 2 acceptances) and no one has even said anything about it either. Looks like it's really not that big of a deal. 👍

 

[drguy22]

Same here.... I took the MCAT "early" (August of junior year)... TERRIBLE IDEA... I wasn't prepared and only scored a 23 also... then took it in April with the rest of my classmates after many more months of studying and got a 29 (I know still not way above average, but good enough for me). Everyone told me how much of a bad idea it is to take the MCAT twice, but so far I've been on 4 interivews (and 2 acceptances) and no one has even said anything about it either. Looks like it's really not that big of a deal. 👍

i got a 25 the first time and a 30 the 2nd...my school didnt even care.

 

[bluejellybelly]

Same here.... I took the MCAT "early" (August of junior year)... TERRIBLE IDEA... I wasn't prepared and only scored a 23 also... then took it in April with the rest of my classmates after many more months of studying and got a 29 (I know still not way above average, but good enough for me). Everyone told me how much of a bad idea it is to take the MCAT twice, but so far I've been on 4 interivews (and 2 acceptances) and no one has even said anything about it either. Looks like it's really not that big of a deal. 👍

wow, i didn;t know taking it twice has this schism to it. Hmmmmm this makes me reconsider not taking it this summer... (I'm a soph)

 

[45408]

wow, i didn;t know taking it twice has this schism to it. Hmmmmm this makes me reconsider not taking it this summer... (I'm a soph)

well, if you're prepared, do it! I took it the summer after my sophomore year and performed just fine. Now all my friends have to take it, but I'm good to go.

 

[WatchingWaiting]

You take the MCAT once - bomb it. (score in the 20's - nono, LOWER 20's)

You take it the second time - ACE it. (30's)

Do they combine the two scores and use a combined score? Do the just look at the higher score? Do they look at the higher score, but deduct a few points cuz of the lower score?

Do they just deduct a few points off of your entire app?

Do you need to explain WHY you did bad on it? Or it makes no darn difference?

It's better to take it once and do well, but most schools are forgiving if you take it twice and show substantial improvement the second time. Lack of knowledge or preparation are the main reasons people don't do well on the MCAT. Go to the AAMC website and try a sample exam (3R online is free). That should give you some idea whether or not you are adequately prepared.

 

[efex101]

Like the above poster said, take it only when you are prepared because why take it more than once if there is no need to? remember, this is overlooked if you do much better than in the first try...but this is not always true (doing better) so again, it is best to prepare for it like you are only taking it once.